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Ventura Unified outlines 2025–26 budget, opens LCAP adoption and considers TRAN to smooth cash flow
Summary
District staff opened public hearings on the 2025–26 LCAP and proposed budget, outlined data showing early-grade literacy gains and persistent gaps, and briefed the board on a tax-revenue anticipation note (TRAN) to manage predictable property-tax timing shortfalls. Trustees requested a study session before final adoption on June 24.
The Ventura Unified School District Board of Education opened public hearings June 10 on the district’s 2025–26 Local Control and Accountability Plan and on the proposed budget, while staff also briefed trustees on a possible tax-revenue anticipation note to cover predictable year-round cash-flow gaps.
Dr. Bailis read the LCAP notification and reminded the public that adoption is scheduled for June 24. Educational Services staff provided an extensive update that framed the district’s five LCAP goals, presented data from the California School Dashboard and local measures, and highlighted mixed results: growth in some early literacy measures and graduation rates, but continuing needs in English language arts and math. “We are entering the second year of a three-year LCAP cycle,” Dr. Castro said, noting the plan focuses spending on the district’s ‘red’ performance areas and on supports for unduplicated students.
Staff said some local indicators improved (for example, suspension rates and chronic absenteeism showed recent year-over-year improvement), but parent and family survey responses declined from roughly 4,500 last year to about 2,000 this year. Trustees asked for a study session to dig into dashboard interpretation, parent engagement strategies and how targets are set. Trustee Sabrina Rodriguez said the board should “have a study session on understanding this—this dashboard is our district report card.”
On the budget, Chief Business Officer Joey (last name on file) presented a broadly consistent outlook but cautioned that a number of one-time and expiring categorical grants (notably portions of the Learning Recovery Block Grant and wellness/SAP grants) will return to the unrestricted general fund in coming years, creating structural pressure. The proposed 2025–26 budget reflects a 2.3% COLA and the current best estimates for LCFF funding; staff projects a modest decline in enrollment and is accounting for approximately a $9.2 million undesignated assignment labeled for declining enrollment.
External advisor Mark Ferrell of Dale Scott & Company briefed the board on a TRAN, a short-term note issued to meet cash needs during months when property-tax receipts are not yet posted. Ferrell said TRANs are common in California and designed to address timing mismatches, not to finance ongoing spending: “Trans are truly just to address cash flow issues,” he said, adding that projected county-pool earnings on TRAN proceeds can offset issuance cost and note interest in many market scenarios.
Board members pressed for additional detail and asked staff to convene a budget study session before the June 24 adoption. The board set a June 24 adoption date for the LCAP and budget; staff will post the study-session availability and return with updated numbers after June 24 and following the district’s close of books in September.
